Rains avoid capital city but batter its neighbor
Source: Xinhua |
July 27, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A DOWNPOUR expected to hit Beijing yesterday bypassed the capital but battered neighboring Tianjin, flooding many downtown streets and vehicles.
By 11am yesterday, the maximum precipitation had exceeded 300 millimeters, Tianjin's meteorological center said.
It said the city proper received an average rainfall of 147mm, while the outer Xiqing District, one of the worst-hit areas, received 309.8mm.
There were no deaths reported as of yesterday afternoon but four people suffered from electric shocks due to the flood and were receiving treatment in hospital, according to the Tianjin Emergency Medical Center.
The local fire prevention bureau sent 190 fire engines and 1,140 personnel to help rescue vehicles and pedestrians stranded by flooding.
The rain had largely stopped by noon, but the center was warning residents of another rainstorm expected to hit Tianjin last night.
Torrential rain is also expected to hit the city tonight, bringing an estimated precipitation of 40 to 70mm, said Zhao Gang, the city meteorological bureau's chief forecaster.
Yesterday morning's downpour flooded many roads, paralyzing traffic in the downtown area. Dozens of vehicles were stranded after their engines died in the flood.
Many pedestrians complained they had to wade through knee-deep water. In some sections of Xianyang Street, floodwater was waist deep.
On the badly flooded Friendship Road in Hexi District, five workers kept watch next to sewage wells where manholes had been removed to allow faster drainage.
The rain disrupted air traffic but railway services were largely unaffected, including the express railway linking Tianjin with Beijing, the city's railway authorities confirmed.
Vegetable prices rose at the city's major wholesale markets yesterday.
"Each kilo is at least 0.4 yuan - about 30 percent - more expensive than yesterday," Cui Hongqing, a wholesaler at Hongqi Market, said yesterday.
Cui predicted further price rises today as the rain devastated crops and increased transport costs.
Beijing had been on guard against heavy rain, fearing a repeat of Saturday's disaster.
Saturday's downpour, which the weather bureau described as the "heaviest in 61 years," killed 77 people, including some who drowned in private cars.
Many office workers were allowed to go home early on Wednesday out of concern for their safety, and city authorities bombarded mobile phone subscribers with text message warnings of an imminent downpour.
The much expected rain, however, did not fall in the capital.
The central weather bureau has forecast rain in seven northern China provinces and municipalities, including Beijing, over the next few days.
By 11am yesterday, the maximum precipitation had exceeded 300 millimeters, Tianjin's meteorological center said.
It said the city proper received an average rainfall of 147mm, while the outer Xiqing District, one of the worst-hit areas, received 309.8mm.
There were no deaths reported as of yesterday afternoon but four people suffered from electric shocks due to the flood and were receiving treatment in hospital, according to the Tianjin Emergency Medical Center.
The local fire prevention bureau sent 190 fire engines and 1,140 personnel to help rescue vehicles and pedestrians stranded by flooding.
The rain had largely stopped by noon, but the center was warning residents of another rainstorm expected to hit Tianjin last night.
Torrential rain is also expected to hit the city tonight, bringing an estimated precipitation of 40 to 70mm, said Zhao Gang, the city meteorological bureau's chief forecaster.
Yesterday morning's downpour flooded many roads, paralyzing traffic in the downtown area. Dozens of vehicles were stranded after their engines died in the flood.
Many pedestrians complained they had to wade through knee-deep water. In some sections of Xianyang Street, floodwater was waist deep.
On the badly flooded Friendship Road in Hexi District, five workers kept watch next to sewage wells where manholes had been removed to allow faster drainage.
The rain disrupted air traffic but railway services were largely unaffected, including the express railway linking Tianjin with Beijing, the city's railway authorities confirmed.
Vegetable prices rose at the city's major wholesale markets yesterday.
"Each kilo is at least 0.4 yuan - about 30 percent - more expensive than yesterday," Cui Hongqing, a wholesaler at Hongqi Market, said yesterday.
Cui predicted further price rises today as the rain devastated crops and increased transport costs.
Beijing had been on guard against heavy rain, fearing a repeat of Saturday's disaster.
Saturday's downpour, which the weather bureau described as the "heaviest in 61 years," killed 77 people, including some who drowned in private cars.
Many office workers were allowed to go home early on Wednesday out of concern for their safety, and city authorities bombarded mobile phone subscribers with text message warnings of an imminent downpour.
The much expected rain, however, did not fall in the capital.
The central weather bureau has forecast rain in seven northern China provinces and municipalities, including Beijing, over the next few days.
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